Bladder carcinoma with lymphoepithelioma-like differentiation: a report of 9 cases.
OBJECTIVE
Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the bladder is rare with only 14 cases reported to date. We report 9 additional cases with long-term followup.


METHODS
All 713 patients with an initial diagnosis of bladder tumor in western Sweden from 1987 through 1988 were prospectively registered and followed. A clinical and histopathological review was performed on 816 bladder tumors from the files of the oncology department treated between 1962 and 1989.


RESULTS
Of 9 patients with stages T2M0-T3M0 cancer treated with locoregional therapy 6 with either pure or predominant lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma pattern had no evidence of disease after a median observation of 4 years (range 1 to 18) and 3 with focal lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma pattern died of disease after 9 to 68 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma is diagnosed in less advanced stages and has a more favorable long-term prognosis than other types of undifferentiated invasive carcinomas of the bladder. Our data and review of the literature suggest that lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma should be treated stage by stage like other bladder carcinomas.
Holmäng
S
S
Department of Urology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.
Borghede
G
G
Johansson
S L
SL
D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy